WSJ.com: Capital

The Agenda for a Finance Revamp

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:21:26 EST

The global financial-regulatory system is so arcane that few politicians can grasp it. But the chairman of Britain's financial regulator is worth listening to.

Theories on Solving 'Too Big to Fail'

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:34:45 EDT

Bankers, regulators and politicians must tackle the "too big to fail" problem, as already big institutions that survived the financial crisis are now even bigger. The solutions fall into three strains.

Wall Street Soars Above Main Street

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:33:01 EDT

Wall Street is back. But Main Street isn't enjoying much of a recovery. Employers are still shedding jobs, and the unemployment rate is at 9.8%.

Deficit Dilemma: How to Dig Out?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:42:27 EDT

The budget deficit looms as a threat to the economy, yet Obama has no business plan to prevent the U.S. from becoming the world's largest subprime borrower.

Wider Health-Care Access Pays Off

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:34:47 EDT

Amid the health-care debate, it is easy to lose sight of one issue: the value of broadening access to quality health care, both to individuals and society.

The Downside of Reducing Debt

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:17:26 EDT

Many Americans, most banks and some businesses are trying to lighten their debt loads. This prudent reaction to a borrowing binge that proved unwise hurts the economy.

Pay Limits: Easy to Promise, Hard to Do

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:18:29 EDT

Governments around the world may sound like they are moving in the same direction on bankers' pay, there are differences -- both symbolic and substantive.

Divining Bernanke's Next Moves

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:09:03 EDT

Ben Bernanke has preached transparency, but Americans remain suspicious of the Fed and baffled by what it's up to. David Wessel answers some questions he has been asked.

Taxing Rich Would Shrink Gap

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:12:20 EDT

The deficit is too wide to be closed exclusively by raising taxes on the rich, but raising their taxes would raise significant sums without hampering the economy, David Wessel writes.

Obama Can't Pass the Buck

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:50:21 EDT

It's Barack Obama's economy now. The naming of Bernanke for a second term and the deficit projections are political punctuation points.

Despite Success, Stimulus Is Unpopular

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:28:59 EDT

Although the $787 billion stimulus plan has helped stall the economy's free fall, it's still less popular now than it was six months ago, writes David Wessel.

U.S. Economy Is Better, Not Cured

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:03:13 EDT

Two years ago, the housing virus passed into the banking system -- and the Fed and ECB rushed to administer medicine. Although the patient may be out of danger, he isn't healthy yet, David Wessel writes.

Risks, Rewards in Community College Plan

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:56:15 EDT

Obama's $12 billion community college plan has student-loan providers shrieking and colleges celebrating.

Man Who Hurt Overhaul Effort Could Also Save It

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:16:36 EDT

If Obama's health-reform drive dies, its death may be dated to the day a nerdy economist who heads the CBO testified bluntly that current bills wouldn't slow cost growth.

Right Time for Obama to Fix Health Care

Thu, 07 May 2009 13:17:26 EDT

Obama's odds of renovating the health-care system look surprisingly good, writes David Wessel. Four reasons why he may succeed.

Obama Falls Short of Dealing with Deficit

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:08:28 EDT

Obama talks as if he has that old-time fiscal-responsibility religion, but the president has yet to acknowledge blunt arithmetic reality.

Economy's Fate on Credit Watch

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:35:00 EDT

After one of the most tumultuous weekends Wall Street has ever seen, how much bleaker is the outlook for the U.S. economy?

'American Way' Is a Work in Progress

Thu, 13 Nov 2003 08:41:07 EST

The self-correcting nature of the American economic and political system means that problems are usually followed by shrieks of outrage and changes for the better. But the pace and severity of reform isn't always consistent.